Center Director Dr. Chris Magra Interviews Retired Army Colonel Gerald York
On May 4, 2026, the Center for the Study of Tennesseans and War director, Dr. Chris Magra, interviewed retired Army Colonel Gerald York. Colonel Gerald York (Ret.) is a U.S. Army veteran and grandson of Alvin C. York, World War I Medal of Honor recipient. Born in 1947, he was raised in Tennessee and commissioned through ROTC at Vanderbilt University in 1969. He served in military intelligence during the Vietnam War and went on to complete a 31-year Army career, rising to the rank of colonel. His service included leadership roles in the United States and overseas, as well as senior positions with the Defense Intelligence Agency. He retired in 2000. After his military career, York continued serving veterans and preserving history through his leadership in the Sergeant York Patriotic Foundation. Click here to watch the interview.